Note 8 to debut Aug. 23

Samsung Electronics said Friday the latest phone in its Galaxy Series will be unveiled Aug. 23 in New York.

The world’s largest smartphone maker sent out invitations to a launch event to be held at Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan for the new flagship smartphone.

Although Samsung did not specify which of its products will be disclosed, it is highly-anticipated to be the Galaxy Note 8 as the tech giant has traditionally come up with a new Note phone in the second half of each year.

Plus, Koh Dong-jin, its mobile chief, recently said the high-end phone will be launched next month.

The invitation also reads: “the ultimate multitasking device for those who want to do bigger things with their phone.”

The unveiling is strategically ahead of the Apple iPhone 8’s projected September launch and is designed to steal the show, according to market observers.

This year marks the 10th anniver- sary of the iPhone, raising consumers’ expectations.

The new giant phone has already been drawing keen attention as it will be the first Galaxy Note since last year’s fiasco of the ill-fated Note 7. Samsung had to discontinue the device two months after its launch due to faulty batteries.

According to a teaser image attached to the press invitation, the Note 8 is expected to sport minimized bezels and a curved screen, which were featured in the Galaxy S8.

The Note 8 is likely to come with a 6.3-inch display, larger than the S8’s 5.8-inch screen. The S8 Plus variant has a 6.2-inch one.

In addition, the phone is expected to include the Bixby voice assistant whose English service is now available and a dual camera that enables people to take both wide and regular angle shots. Samsung has yet to bring a dual-camera setup to its smartphones.

Other expected headline features are its innovative biometric authentication — fingerprint, iris and facial recognition — and the S-Pen that may come with its own speaker.